Buckle fastener



July 26, 1932. H. G. WHITEHOUSE 1,869,126

BUCKLE FASTENER Filed April l5, 1932 l 21 2L 20 /5 i814 Patented July 26, 1932 UNETED STATES PATENT orales l HERBERT G. WHITEHOUSE, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE BIKER COM- PANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY BGKLE rAsfrnNnR Application led April 15,

This invention relates to fasteners; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel buckle fastener especially adapted for use in connecting shoe straps and the like.

Buckle fasteners, as heretofore constructed, usually have one piece frames, which, when attached to a shoe strap, lie snugly against the strap, thereby ymaking it dilficult'to pass the cooperating shoe strap through the buckle as when fastening or unfastening the straps. Also, when the cooperating shoe strap is in fastened yposition within the buckle, the latter ofttirnes tends to lbulge such strap outwardly inthe region of the tongue-bar of the zio'.

buckle, thereby presenting an unattractive appearance as well as tending to exert undue pressure upon that portion of the foot of the wearer underlying the buckle.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel buckle fastener which is so constructed as to enable the easy passage of a strap therethrough as when fastening or unfastening such strap, the said buckle fastener having an anchor frame, a

buckle frame and a keeper frame, the said buckle Vand keeper frames being designed to be turned outwardly with respect to the anchor frame in use, whereby ready access is had to the buckle and keeper frames.

Another object of the present invention lies in the provision of a novel buckle fastener of the above character which is simple and economical to manufacture and which 1s 35 jelfective and durable in use, the same being comfortable to the wearer and extremely attractive in appearance.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more `particularly enumerated, will be 'clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same. i

The invention is clearly illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a fragmentary plain view illustrating the novel buckle fastener of the present invention applied to shoe straps. Y

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the structure shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3 3 of Fig. l and also illustrates by dotted 1932. Serial No. 605,387.

lines, the manner of threading a strap through the buckle fastener. y

Fig. l-is a planview of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. l, the instep strap being removed from the buckle fastener. Y

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but of a slightly modified form of construction; andladys shoe across the instep., but the same' may be employed separably to connect straps v or tapes for other purposes, and this invention is not intended to be limited to the precise construction of the use herein described, Y

except` as the invention may be defined in the appended claims.

In Figs. l to 4 there is shown one form of the novel buckle fastener of Vthis invention,

which buckle fastener comprises ananchor frame Aadapted to .be securedy as by stitching 'y 5 to the stub strap 6 on one side of the upper of a ladys slipper (not shown). The

tially rectangular shape in plan, although the same may have various shapes, and is provided with hinge knuckles 7 and 8 at its ends.

The end portion ofthe anchor frame 4 having the hinge knuckles 7 is bifurcated for receiving the buckle tongue 9 within the bifurcation thereof. `The buckle tongue 9 is pivotally 'mounted on the buckle frame l() intermediate the hinge knuckles 7. rlhe buckle frame 10 extends through andV is pivotally Se I vse anchor frame l is illustrated as of sub'stanmounted. within the hinge knuckles 7 ofanchor frame 4. i' j p A keeper frame 1l is pivotally mountedv within the hinge knuckle .8 of anchor frame l.

The buckle frame lO as well as vthe keeper frame l1. are illustrated asl of substantially oval shape in plan, but it Vwill be apparent that these two frames may have various shapes, such as square, rectangular or any strap r22. In this forni of the invention as in. Figs. 1to 41, the .buckle frame 17 and the keepf other desired configuration. rlhe instep strap 12 has perforations 13 therein and is adapted to be passed through buckle frame 10 so that buckle tongue 9 may be engaged in one of the perforations 13. After the tongue 9 is thus engaged, the free end portion of strap 12is adapted to be passed through the keeper frame 11.

Owing tothe hinged connection of the buckle frame 10 withv the anchor frame 4',

this buckle frame may be turned upwardly,

as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, when it is desired to either' insert the strap 12- through the buckle frame 10 as when fasten ing the straps 6 and 12 together, orwhen removino the stra 12 frointhe buckle frame shown in Fig. 1, the same presents a very at tractive appearance and eliminates any excessive bulging of the instep strap outwardly.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 vand 6, the anchor frame 111 isillustratedas of hollow rectangular shape and is for-med withan intermediate tongue-bar 15 for pivotally receiving the buckle tongue 16 which cooperates with the buckle frame 17. Al e buckle frame 17 is formed with bent over hinge knuckles 18 which, by encircling Vone end of anchor frame 14, serve to pivot-ally connect thisbuckle frame to the anchor frame le. The keeper frame 19 is also provided' with bent over hingeknuckles 2O for pivotallyl connecting this keeper frame to the other end r of the anchor frame 14, Stitching 21 is adaptedto vsecure the buckle vframe 1ato vstub ery frame 19. areadapted. to befturneduip-f wardly to enable the easy insertion or. ree moval of the instep strap23..

Asmany changes could be madein: the above construction and, many apparently widely different embodiments Vof thisinven.-

` tioncouldbe made without. departing from thescope thereof, as defined by the following:V

claims, itA is intended that all matter -v con,-

tained in the above description or, shown-inl the accompanying. drawing; shall be inter- Vpreted as illustrative and not-.inA a, limitingv sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A buckle fastener of the classdescribed comprising, an anchorv member adaptedto be if" attached to a vstrap orother support said anchor member having hinge knuckles at its ends, one end portion of said anchor member being bifurcated for receiving a buckle tongue therewithin, a buckle frame hingedly connected to the hinge knuckles at the bifurcated end of said anchor member, said buckle frame having a buckle tongue pivotally mounted thereon intermediate the hinge knuckles of said anchor member, a keeper frame hingedly connect-ed. to thehingefknuckle at the other endrof saidanchorinember, said buckle frame and said keeper frame being turnable outwardly about their hinged connections with said anchor member and away from said strap to enable af cooperating strap to be readily passed through-saidbuckle and keeperframes. Vas when fasteningjor unfast'eningsaidstraps.

' 2. A buckle fasten-erl ofthe class described i comprising, ananchor member adapted to be attached vto a strapvor other support, a buckle frame hingedly connected to one end of ,said anchor member and akeeper frame hingedly connected to the other end of said anchor member, a buckle-tongue pivot'ed upon saidlA anchor member and cooperating ,with said buckle frame for attaching a second strap to said'first named strap, s aid buckle frame and; Y

said keeper frame beingturnable outwardly about their hinged' connections with said an.-

clior. member and away from saidiirst named strap, thereby enabling said second strap to be readily passed throughA said buckle and keeper frames as when fastening orunf'asten ingvsaid straps. Y

3; A buckle fastener of the class described comprising, an anchor frame member'adapted to be attached as by sewingto a strap or other support, said anchor frame member beinglof hollow rectangular shape and having; a tongue-bar intermediate the length thereof,

a buckle frame hingedly connected to one end' of said anchor Vframe member and a keeper frame hingedl'y connectedto the other end of said anchor frame member, afbuckletongueV pivoted upon the tongue-bar of said anchor frame member and cooperating with said buckle framefor attaching a secondlstrap to said first named'strap, said buckle frame andi said keeper frame being turnable outwardly about their hinged connections withfsaid. anchor frame member and away from said rst named strap, thereby enabling said second strap vto be readily passed through saidbuckle and keeper-frames as when fastening or unfastening'said straps.

In testimony, that l claimV theinvention4 set forth above-have hereuntoset my hand this 9th day of'A'pr'il, 1932.

. HERBERT G. WHITE'HOUS'E. 

